Congratulations
Thanks to everyone who cam to support all those being confirmed on Tuesday night. It helped to make the evening special for them. The church was full, there was a range of joyful music and the lovely service lead by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Revd Julian Henderson. Also thank you to all who sponsored a candidate. 16 children and 4 adults from our two churches were confirmed.
Please continue to remember the Confirmation candidates in your prayers.
United Benefice of Altham and Clayton-le-Moors
First Sunday of Advent
This service is live in church, but it will be streamed so if you are unable to attend you can view it online. Now most of the words will also appear when you view the service on line so it will be easier to follow the service.
However, below are the day’s readings plus the intercessions for reference, as there will not appear on screen.
First reading: Isaiah 35: 1-10
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
8 And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
9 No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
10 and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Second reading: Luke 21: 25 – 36
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Third reading Romans 13: 11 – 14
11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber,because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.[a]
If you want to come along please give your name to Andrew Mc. so he knows how many to book a table for. Thanks
Please continue to support our local Food back based at Clayton Baptist Church, especially as more and more people in the local area are struggling.
sauce, tea / coffee etc. Also fruit and vegetables.Please can you drop items off at Clayton Baptist Church. Alternatively if you bring your items to church on Sunday we will make sure that they get to the food bank.
Thank you.
United Benefice of Altham and Clayton-le-Moors
Sixthteenth Sunday after Trinity
This service is live in church, but it will be streamed so if you are unable to attend you can view it online. Now most of the words will also appear when you view the service on line so it will be easier to follow the service.
However, below are the day’s readings plus the intercessions for reference, as there will not appear on screen.
First reading: James 3:13 – 4a
3 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4 You adulterous people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]?6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”[c]
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts,you double-minded.
Second reading: Mark 9:30 -37
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him,and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Adults wanting to explore their faith, or find out more about Christianity, are invited to a short course at the vicarage on Wednesday evenings, starting 29th September. It would be ideal for anyone considering adult confirmation.
Please contact Revd Toby to register your interest.
Thank you
Church Safeguarding training reminder
This is a reminder to those
The safeguarding training can be completed on-line via the safeguarding portal link here
Which training course is for you?
Those new to the PCC and Sunday School helpers just need to complete the Basic Awareness Course (C0)
If you are a coordinator or leader who has not done any church safeguarding training please complete both the Basic Awareness course ( C0 ) and the Foundation course (C1).
Those postholders who are just doing a refresher please complete the Foundation course (C1).
When you have completed the course, you will be given an e-certificate. Pease can you send me a copy for my records. Thank you.
Elaine
Safeguarding officer
Children’s Summer activities during Sunday Service.
Children’s activities in the garden during the 11am service through summer – start in church, in the garden for story linden to a Bible reading /activity/game then back in at the peace.
We aim to offer this each Sunday except 8th Aug, weather permitting!
Covid update
I would like to update everyone on arrangements at All Saints’ Church regarding Covid-19.
Over the past 16 months we have complied with all the regulations as we sought to enable parishioners to worship in a safe environment and I want to thank everyone for doing what we have asked of them.
The wardens and I have now met to review these measures now that what was legally mandated is now up to local decision making. We have agreed that our first priority must be to protect everyone and keep church as a safe place to attend whilst case numbers continue to increase. We do, however, want to allow for congregational singing at 11am. Therefore during the next few weeks the following measures will be in place:
Changes
Continuing unchanged at present
We will of course keep these measures under review and will communicate any changes as and when they are introduced.
Toby
Tots Praise and teddy bears picnic returns!
It was lovely to welcome tots back to Tot’s Praise on Wednesday. After an active social distance time in church, the weather cleared up enough for everyone to go outside for the actual teddy bears picnic.
All the children went away full, happy and with a helium filled ballon.
Looking forward to the next Tots’ Praise.
